Seeing kids my age making millions in the stock market, real estate, and e-commerce got me upset, so I started reading books like “Rich Dad Poor Dad” by Robert Kiyosaki, “Midas Touch” by Kiyosaki and Donald Trump, and other financial literacy books. I also watched tutorial videos on YouTube and TikTok. But even with such self-mode learning, I still don’t know where to start and how to begin investing.
I took up an MBA to be more financially literate, to know more about the stock market, real estate, taxes, and trading, but my MBA professors seemingly didn’t even know how to do the stock market. She just gave us a group topic to present in class, but we learned nothing from her. This is the result of the school system’s lack of modernization; experts who can teach financial literacy are few and far between.
I thought my 13 years of schooling had prepared and equipped me to deal with after-college life, but it had not. I am trapped in a rat race, working eight hours, living a paycheck-to-paycheck life with no savings and investments. Nonetheless, I will not give up learning until I make it out of here. I do not want to spend my life working for someone from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on a minimum wage. I want to cherish my time, make more memories with my family and friends, help people, and empower women.
Venice Samosa Casera,
Western Mindanao State University